Perhaps this division between the nations should not have been unexpected, given that the blessing of Yitzchak to Eisav stated that the two future nations would never rule at the same time. They would rather dominate or be dominated by the other. In light of this, we understand more fully why Edom became the symbol of all Israel’s enemies, for the success of Israel would only come with the weakening, and eventual destruction, of “Edom.”
Ovadya, however, is not content relaying a nevu’ah of the punishment that would be meted out to Edom. In the final psukim of his Sefer, he offers powerful words to all of the “Edoms” throughout history – to all of Israel’s enemies. “Ki karov Yom Hashem al kol hagoyim”, G-d’s day of reckoning of those nations is approaching, Ovadya warns, when He will repay their wickedness by punishing them with the same evil that they visited upon Israel. But he then tells Israel these comforting words: ”Uv’har Tziyon t’h’yeh pleita,” – after all your suffering and persecution, know well that those who remain will find refuge on Har Tziyon, in Jerusalem. These prophetic words have been realized in our very time. The remnants, the survivors of the worst of all evils, found refuge and built new lives in Tziyon!!
Many years ago, I heard a well-known story told about the great Chafetz Chayim, Rav Yisrael Meir Kagen, zt”l, who passed away in 1933. In the final year of the Chafetz Chayim’s life, the Nazi party had grown in power and the Chafetz Chayim expressed his concern. One of his students asked what would happen to the Jews and the Chafetz Chayim responded prophetically: “uv’har Tziyon t’h’yeh pleita,” the future Jewish survival would be found in Tziyon.
As we face the Edom of today, we are reminded of how we have enemies that face us in every generation. But we should also be aware that, very soon, we will mark G-d’s victory over the “Edom” that the Chashmona’im faced. How fitting, therefore, that our annual reading has us hear Ovadya’s words only a week or two before Chanukah so that we be reminded that “V’hayeta LaSham Ham’lucha” - that ultimately, Hashem alone will judge all of the “Edoms” as He reigns over all of mankind, which is what we hope to witness in our own days!
